The Journey
THE ORIGINAL TEMPLAR TAROT DECK
We are truly grateful for the dedication and generosity of the people that helped produce the Templar Tarot project. The first deck came together beautifully. Daria Kelleher, whom we met in August of 2001, studied all of the art and wrote an excellent little white book (LWB). After the printing of the deck, she felt as thought she still had much more to say, so she wrote a follow-up book called Templar Tarot Mysteries. We especially thank the reviewers and other authors who shared their support and praise for the project and showed an appreciation for Allen Chester’s symbolic art.
After the first deck was finished in October 2001, Allen painted one last painting and we felt that it must be included in the deck, even though it had no place or meaning in the LWB. We found a spot to place a short statement about it and sent it all off to the printer. When we had the printed deck in our hands, we realized that the 79th card would become the first card of a sequel deck that would follow.
After the first deck was finished in October 2001, Allen painted one last painting and we felt that it must be included in the deck, even though it had no place or meaning in the LWB. We found a spot to place a short statement about it and sent it all off to the printer. When we had the printed deck in our hands, we realized that the 79th card would become the first card of a sequel deck that would follow.
TEMPLAR TAROT: THE JOURNEY
Allen continued to paint in his same style for the next eight years. Toward the end of 2008 while discussing the future of the sequel deck, we both agreed that we would like to see Stephen Dafoe, the founder and owner of Templar History Magazine, www.templarhistory.com, and author of several Templar-related books, to write the book that would accompany this new collection of powerfully symbolic art inspired by the Knights Templar. We wanted Stephen to write it because of his dedication to historical accuracy based on facts as best we can know them, and not on legends or supposition. Without knowing Stephen personally, I emailed him and asked if he would be interested, and he replied that he was intrigued and wanted to hear more.
So the process began with our mailing him a disc with a collection of Allen’s new paintings to get his opinion on what he immediately saw a connection with. He replied back via email that he had chosen 21 paintings plus the 79th card from the first deck and would tell the history of the Knights Templar in three segments of seven cards each – Birth, Life, and Death. Stephen never received any guidelines or recommendations from Allen or me. He began writing and emailing me as each painting’s written interpretation was complete. Eventually all 22 of the paintings were identified and analyzed, and before long the book was finished. --Cathy Chester
So the process began with our mailing him a disc with a collection of Allen’s new paintings to get his opinion on what he immediately saw a connection with. He replied back via email that he had chosen 21 paintings plus the 79th card from the first deck and would tell the history of the Knights Templar in three segments of seven cards each – Birth, Life, and Death. Stephen never received any guidelines or recommendations from Allen or me. He began writing and emailing me as each painting’s written interpretation was complete. Eventually all 22 of the paintings were identified and analyzed, and before long the book was finished. --Cathy Chester
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank Randy Williams, who did a wonderful job editing the book; Michele Harris, who did most of the design work and took the hundreds of components and made them flow smoothly; and Roger Ma, our print manager, who has helped us to pull it all together. And special appreciation to Joan Bunning, Amber Jayanti, Dr. Jim Norse and Tim Wallace-Murphy for taking the time to preview this project and offer their words of praise. And finally, thank you to Stephen Dafoe for his insightful interpretation and Allen Chester for his artistic talents and willingness to allow his art to be used as a tool for enlightenment.
To this day, neither Allen nor I have met or spoken to Stephen; we have only communicated via the Internet. How the Templars managed to connect these two talented men thousands of miles apart to create such an insightful project is beyond the realm of possibilities, and yet it happened. When two people who have never met share the same vision in such a detailed and unique way, it must be led from a Higher Power, a Power that I may not understand but accept as Truth. I have personally experienced great spiritual growth and understanding from being the coordinator of this project. I hope your experience is equally fulfilling. --Cathy Chester
To this day, neither Allen nor I have met or spoken to Stephen; we have only communicated via the Internet. How the Templars managed to connect these two talented men thousands of miles apart to create such an insightful project is beyond the realm of possibilities, and yet it happened. When two people who have never met share the same vision in such a detailed and unique way, it must be led from a Higher Power, a Power that I may not understand but accept as Truth. I have personally experienced great spiritual growth and understanding from being the coordinator of this project. I hope your experience is equally fulfilling. --Cathy Chester